Ricky Martin has written an emotional open letter to Bad Bunny, celebrating his historic Grammy victories and commitment to Puerto Rican roots. The letter highlights Bad Bunny's achievements as a cultural milestone for immigrants and authenticity in music. It follows Bad Bunny's wins at the 2026 Grammys in Los Angeles.
Ricky Martin, the Puerto Rican singer known for 'Livin' la Vida Loca,' addressed an open letter to Bad Bunny—real name Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio—after the rapper's triumphs at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. Bad Bunny secured three awards: Best Global Musical Performance for his track 'EoO,' Best Música Urbana Album, and Album of the Year for 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos.' This marked the first time an entirely Spanish-language album won the top prize in the Grammys' history.
During his acceptance speech for Best Música Urbana Album, Bad Bunny delivered a passionate defense of immigrants, targeting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He declared, “We are not savage, we are not animals, we are not aliens, we are humans and we are Americans.” The address resonated deeply, leaving the audience in silence.
Martin's letter, published in the Puerto Rican newspaper El Nuevo Día on February 3, 2026, and shared via his Instagram Stories, expressed profound emotion. As a fellow artist from San Juan, Martin wrote that Bad Bunny's success "touched me deeply, not only as an artist, but as a Puerto Rican who has walked stages around the world carrying his language, his accent, and his story." He emphasized the personal cost of maintaining cultural identity amid global pressures: “I know what it means to succeed without letting go of where you come from. I know how heavy it is, what it costs, and what is sacrificed when you decide not to change because others ask you to.”
Martin hailed the wins as more than musical feats, calling them “a cultural and human victory.” He noted, “You won without changing the colour of your voice. You won without erasing your roots. You won by staying true to Puerto Rico.” Reflecting on Bad Bunny's speech, Martin added that it spoke from “a place where fear and hope coexist, where millions live between languages, borders, and deferred dreams.” He concluded that the achievement inspires a generation, affirming that “when one of ours succeeds, we all succeed,” signing off as one Boricua to another.
Bad Bunny's stance against ICE echoes prior concerns; in September 2025, he skipped U.S. tour dates fearing raids on fans. His Super Bowl halftime headline slot on February 8, 2026, has drawn criticism from President Donald Trump, who called it a “terrible choice.” Meanwhile, 'Debí Tirar Más Fotos' earned acclaim, ranking fifth on NME's Best Albums of 2025 list for its poignant ode to Puerto Rico.
